Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-04

the base of supplies, or In Chicago and
Kansas City, where cattle from the plains
are slaughtered.
Chicago is our greatest market for cattle
and beef. One would say that low prices
for cattle ought to have caused large re-
duction of the retail prices OF beef in that
city. But the Chicago Times of July II
says:
| Hardly ever In the history OF the coun-
try, certainly not for twenty years, has the
price of live cattle been as low as during
the present season. -Four years ago fair to
| prime beeves sold in this market from to
) cents per pound. This season only about
half this sum is realized for the same grades
of animals. Farmers are unable to make
any money in raising cattle for the market.
Many feeders who have had long expert
ence in the business have lost heavily by
buying stock and food with view of fur
nishing the market with choice beef.
'Still, while producers get only about
half as much for their fat cattle as they did
four years ago, city and town consumers
pay as much for their steaks, roasts, and
fresh and salt boiling pieces as they ever
did. The fall Of beef on the farm, ranch,
and range has not affected the price of
beef at the retail market OF at the res
taurant'
The buyers of beef at retail in Chicago
suffer as consumers of the same pro-
duct the east do. The same prices are ex-
acted In Kansas City. Everywhere the re
tail prices have been sustained, in spite of
the great reductions which the ranchmen
have been forced to accept. What is the
power that stands between the ranchman
and the consumer, robbing both? 1t is the
beef ring of Chicago and Kansas City, and
this ring has been enabled to collect its
tribute and to discourage or crush competi-
ton by Ubiquitous bargains and alliances
with railroad corporations. What the
Standard oil trust has done in another
field this ring has done In the beef market
1t has established what are practically mo
nopoles. 1t has demanded and received
from SO called common carriers exclusive
privileges. 1t has built up its power by
means of enormous rebates.
The relations existing between the rail
road corporations and the beef ring demand
the attention of the interstate commerce
commission. A complaint might be filed
that would deserve the support, not only of
the consumers of beef in one city, or two
cities, or three, but of a great majority
of the people of the United States. Will
the consumers of Chicago file complaint?
Probably they will not. The laws of lii
nois have long been openly and shamefully
violated and defed in that city by certain
members of this ring who are the greatest
manufacturers of lard in the world, and
who habitually adulerate this product with
large quantities of cotton seed oil. The of
tenders are guilty by their own widely pub
lished admissions but we are not aware |
that any attempt to enforce the violated
laws has been made by the people or the
prosecuting officers of the city. Their in
difference in this matter does not indicate |
that they can be induced to make any for
NAL complaint about the rings operations |
in the beef trade But it is to be hoped |
that some one, or some body Of consumers,
will lay before the commission facts con- |
corning the rings bargains, privileges and
alliances that will insure such an examina- |
ton and such decision as the interests of
the people demand.